An award-winning partnership is meeting shared net zero goals as well as diversifying the early talent pipeline for jobs in the green economy.

Partnership – Case Study
The University of East London (UEL) and Siemens have co-created a dynamic and multifaceted partnership centred around a joint mission to tackle energy use and decarbonisation to meet our 2030 net zero goal as well as a shared drive to diversify the early talent pipeline for jobs in the green economy.

The partnership has students at its heart – providing them with opportunities to work with world-leading experts in Greentech and engineering and giving them the tools to safeguard their planet and progress their careers. They won best Outstanding University Partnership with an Employer at the ISE Awards.

KEY ELEMENTS

Introducing principles of sustainability to students across all degrees
Siemens and UEL co-created a digital learning pathway accessible to all students, teaching them how knowledge of sustainability can enhance their career prospects, regardless of their chosen industry, giving them an edge in the job market.

The pathway explores what sustainable practice in the 21st Century workplace looks like, the principles of ESG and guides students in understanding how this applies to their chosen industry.

Providing students with mentorship and paid internships
Siemens provides six highly sought after paid internships exclusively for UEL students, including a 121 mentor from the business.

Siemen’s Internship Manager commented, “The team was made of up of a diverse group of individuals from different backgrounds with a broad range of expertise and subject areas. By bringing their global perspectives and experiences to the internship programme, particularly with regards to sustainability, we were able to incorporate different ways of thinking and ensure we addressed a broad range of challenges as part of the project.”

Providing students with real-life experience through the Living Lab
Students shadow Siemens Engineers and undertake real-life projects based on data from the Living Lab.

Building efficiency analytics allows students to analysis energy conduction and usage on-campus, providing them with real-world experience interacting with the university’s digital twin, whilst also informing future energy management decisions for the university.

Co-developing an MSc in Smart Cities
UEL academics are working with Siemens experts to develop an MSc in Smart Cities, showing how industry and academia work together to create future ready graduates.

The course will be infused with guest speakers from Siemens and draw on their expertise to create a unique degree programme that is sponsored by industry.

IMPACT

Diversifying the early talent pipeline
Like many organisations, Siemens faces significant challenges with underrepresentation of women in technical roles and a lack of diversity in the early talent pipeline.

Through the partnership, Siemens has created a steady pipeline of students from diverse backgrounds who they inspire about roles in sustainability.

Eda Eren completed an internship with Siemens and was integral in setting up the Living Lab. Eda, who hadn’t previously considered roles in sustainability, has been selected to lead the next group of interns allowing her to grow leadership and technical skills and provide a student-led experience for future participants

Achieving net zero
The first phase of the project has immediately cut 10% of UEL’s carbon emissions. The installation of 11,000 LED lights across its campuses and the replacement of ageing building energy management systems have resulted in a reduction of 470 tCO2e and substantial financial savings.

The partnership was recognised at the 2023 Decentralised Energy Awards, where we placed first for ‘Net Zero Leader’.

Innovation
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, attended the opening of the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability which houses the Siemens Living Lab. Here he learnt about the innovative UEL/Siemens partnership.

Sadiq had this to say, “I encourage other universities, and indeed businesses, to draw inspiration from the urban sustainability work that UEL and Siemens are pioneering. Their approach to achieve net zero on UEL campuses by 2030, develop a unique Living Lab for real time and real-world teaching and research, and create new future-focused degrees, is fast becoming an example of how to combine with an industry partner to achieve a goal of global importance.”

Read case studies from other ISE Award winners